Dragon 370 - Design & Development: Cosmology

[Phaezen]

So are we all nerdragers because we discuss RPG on a RPG forum? Oh noes!

Just when we get carried away by speculation and rumor . My current nerdrage for example is "The Crow" remake, but we are drifting off topic.

As pemerton pointed out, variant cosmologies are discussed in the 4e MOTP and there is even allowance for The Great Wheel, this is despite much heated discussion upthread about how 4e is trying to make all settings look the same, based off a preview article.

Phaezen

 

[Fifth Element]

Now that I've started reading my copy of MotP, I don't understand all the outrage. It talks about variant cosmologies. It even has a sidebar telling you how to do the Great Wheel in 4e. What's the problem?

That was the biggest surprise I found when I opened my copy. One of the first things I noticed when flipping through was the page on the Great Wheel. Based on comments here, I had assumed that would be nowhere to be found. The "Customizing the Cosmology" section was a surprise given that this book was supposed to tell me how to play my game. (Sometimes with a German accent.)

 

[Fifth Element]

So are we all nerdragers because we discuss RPG on a RPG forum? Oh noes!

I think it was a valid discussion, with interesting points from both sides.

Much of it was definitely valid. Some of it was "Blargh!", not borne out by the actual content of the book.

 

[Drkfathr1]

My only real concern is the paragraph that says something to the effect of: all 4E supplements are going to assume the current world axis cosmology as standard. I'm hoping they mean the generic supplements and not the campaign settings, because I still don't think it works right for Athas and Krynn.

 

[justanobody]

Many people seem to overlook that for some reaosn.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

My only real concern is the paragraph that says something to the effect of: all 4E supplements are going to assume the current world axis cosmology as standard. I'm hoping they mean the generic supplements and not the campaign settings, because I still don't think it works right for Athas and Krynn.

I am afraid it is supposed to apply to campaign settings too, since they want to preserve the meaning of the "origin" identifier for creatures. Well, not everything the designers say has to be gold.

 

[Umbran]

Nerdrage, jumping to assumtions, and desperately searching for things to take offence at. Keeping discussion on the internet moving forward since, forever.

Insult, ascribing states of mind and motivations, and painting with a broad brush.

Pot calling the kettle black, sir. Do not chide someone else when you aren't willing to do better yourself.

Folks, this is the holiday season. Try to treat each other better.

 

[Scribble]

My only real concern is the paragraph that says something to the effect of: all 4E supplements are going to assume the current world axis cosmology as standard. I'm hoping they mean the generic supplements and not the campaign settings, because I still don't think it works right for Athas and Krynn.

I don't actually remember WHAT the cosmology of Krynn was... And Athas was just cut off right? I never had much experience with it.

 

[TheWyrd]

Was flipping through it today in the bookstore. There's even a sidebar on the BloodWar. I seem to remember some complaints about that being missing. Its a short discussion but basically reads: "It has existed in the past. Currently is in a state of uneasy truce. Will likely happen again as plot demands."

 

[Imban]

I don't actually remember WHAT the cosmology of Krynn was... And Athas was just cut off right? I never had much experience with it.

Athas was just cut off, because it was a Craphole Desert World where there was a pronounced lack of important things commonly available elsewhere, like metal and food. (The idea being that free teleportation to and from other dimensions with plenty of metal and food would be, well, bad for the setting.)

I actually don't remember much about Krynn's cosmology other than that the Abyss is different from normal D&D's and is where all the bad gods live, and the stars represent the gods, making "Star Pact" Warlocks in need of a few terminology changes to differentiate them from Clerics.